Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-06-24
"A faint track rorkcd out of The standcrton
CHAPTER XIII
IN TIE DRIFT OF THE vAAT.

VI ohe 'dib ppSillNelJ EaSllng. during the
afternoon there had been little breeze, but
this had now died away, and the sitting air
felt as thick as though they were breathing
cream. Even the two Beers seemed to feel
the heat, for they were both outstretched ON
the grass a few PAGES to the left, to all APP
pcarances fast asleep. As for the horses. they
were thoroughly done up-too much so to
cat-and hobbed along ms well as their knee
halters would allow, daintily picking IA
mouthful here and mouhful there The
only person who did not seem to mind was
the Zulu Mouti, who sat on an antheap near
the horses in the full glare of the setting sun
and comfortably droned out little song Of
his own invention, for zulus are as great FOR
improvising as the Italians.
John,n said jess, at last, "where do YOU
suppose we are going to camp tonight If
we follow the main road we shall reach Stan
derton in an hour"
81 don't suppose that they will go near
Standerton," he said. 81 suppose that we
shall cross the Vaal by another drift and
have TO 'vcldt,' tn
just then the two Beers woke up and began
to talk earnestly together, as though they
were debating something hotly.
Slowly the huge red ball of the sun sank TO-
ward the horizon sleeping the earth and sky in
blood About hundred yards from where
they sat the little bride path that branched
from the main road crossed the crest of one
of the great land waves that rolled away in
every direction toward the far horizon. John
watched the sun sinking behind it till some
thing called away his attention for a minute.
When he looked up again there was figure
on horseback, standing quite still. upon tho
crest of the ridge in the full glow Of tho now
disappearing sun. 1t was Frank Muller.
John recognized him in moment. His horse
was standing sideways, so that even at that
distance every line of his features, even tho
trigger guard of the rifle that rested on his
knee, showed distinctly against the back
ground of smoky red. Nor was that all.
Both he and his horse had tho appearance of
being absolutely on fire. The effect produced
was so weird and extraordinary that John
called his companions attention 20 it, She
looked and shuddercd involuntarily
"He looks like a devil in hell" she said !,
"the fire seems to be running all up and down
him.
"Wel," said John, che certainly is a devil
but am sorry to say that he has not vet
reached his destination. Here be comes, like
O whirlwind."
In another twenty seconds Muller had
refined the great black horse on to his
Launches alongside of them, and was smiling
sweetly and taking of his hat.
"You see l have managed to keep my
word, he said. VI can tell you that had
great difficulty in doing so; indeed, l was
nearly obliged to give the thing up at the
last moment. However, here | am"
"Where are we to outspan to-night:' asked
jess. "At Standertonl'
"No," he said; II am afraid that is more
than | can manage for you, unless YOU can
persuade the English officer there to s,ll1.en-
der What have arranged is that we should
cross the Naal at drift | know about two
hours twelve niles from here, and outspan
at a farm on the other side Do not trouble,
/ assure you you shall both sleep well to-
night and he smiled a somewhat terrifying
smile, jess thought.
But how about this drift, Mr.. Muller"
said John. as it safe9 l should have
thought that the Vaal would have been in
flood after all the rain that we have had"
THE drift is perfectly safe, Capt. Mel.
crossed it myself about two hours ago
know you have had bad opinion Of me, but
l suppose you do not think that l should
guide you TO an unsafe driftY' and with an
Beers, saying, as he went, "lNill you tell the
kaflir to put the horses inY'
With shrug of his shoulders John rose and
went off toward Mouti, to help him to drive
up the four grays, who were now standing
Imply together, biting at the flies, that, be-
fore a storm, sting more sharply than at any
othe, time. The two horses bejonoinp 70 the
escort were some fiftv noces to tba loft II
was nc tbouob +bsv annrac;,tad tho nosit;o,,
of affairs and declined to mi. with the ami
mails of the discredited Enrlisbman
The two Boers rose MS Muller emma a,d
walked off toward their horses. Muller
slowly following them. As they came the
horses hobbled away another thirty wards or
SO, and then lifted up their heads, and rs n
consequence. their fore legs. to which the
heads were tied, and stood looking detiontIv
at their captors. for all the world rs thorrL
they We're trying to make up their minds
whether or not to shake hands with them.
Frank Muller was alongside the two mon
now. and they were alongside the horses
"Iistenln he said. sternly.
The men looked mn
500 on loosenint, the reins and Listen ~
They obeved. and began TO SLOWLY funbla